Apparatus for rolling sheet and tin plate.



PATENTED Nov. 7, 1905.

P. E. BONNER. APPARATUS FOR ROLLING SHEET AND TIN PLATE.

APYLIUATION FILED 811F114, 1904.

2 SHEETS-833E11- OHWU SSES.

WI'IITNE v No. 803,673. PATENTED NOV. 7, 1905.

PLE.DONNER[ APPARATUS FOR ROLLING SHEET AND TIN PLATE.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT, 14, 1904.

2 SHEETSSHBIIT 2.

1H m y N U 1 \N t li/ A u. w

WITNESSES. INVE I NTOR.

PERCY E. DONNER, OF COLUMBUS, INDIANA.

APPARATUS FOR ROLLING SHEET AND TIN PLATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1905.

Application filed September 14, 1904. Serial No. 224,452.

To ctZZ it'll/07m it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PERCY E. DONNER, a resident of Columbus, in thecounty of Bartholomew and State of Indiana, have invented a new anduseful Improvementin Apparatus for Rolling Sheet and Tin Plate; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof.

-My invention relates to apparatus for rolling sheet metal; and it isdesigned to provide improved apparatus whereby ordinary sheet bars arereduced at a continuous operation to such a gage that they can afterwardwith one heating and at one operation be reduced to such lighter gagesas are used for tin-plating and similar purposes.

In the rolling of sheet metal it has been proposed to use a continuousmill having a plurality of pairs of two-high rolls arranged in tandem,through which the plate-bar passes in succession and is gradually andprogressively reduced in thickness. Metal sheets, however,,when runsingly through rolls cannot be advantageously reduced beyond a certaingage and not sufficiently thin for most commercial uses, this being dueto the fact that after the plate has been reduced a certain amountsufiicient pressure cannot be eX- crted by the ordinary adjustingmechanism of the rolls to further reduce the same. Conseque'ntly it hasalways been the custom to match up two or more partially reducedplates-that is, place one upon the other-- and then pass the pilethrough reducing-rolls. In this Way the rolls develop sufiicientpressure tofu rther reduce the plates. This matching of the plates hasalso been proposed with reference to continuous reducing-mills, it beingthe custom to provide a gap or space between two contiguous pairs ofrolls of the continuous mill, or, more strictly speaking, to have twocontinuous mills with a gap or space between the same, in which gap orspace is placed mechanism provided with stops for matching up two ormore plates. All apparatus of this kind heretofore proposed hasnecessitated the placing of the second continuous train in the same linewith the first train and has also necessitated manually-operatedmechanism for matching the edges of the plates. There are numerousobjections to the old arrangement, one being the manual work necessaryfor edging up the sheets, which to some extent delays the entrance ofthe matched-up sheets into the second reducingtrain, thus giving thesheets an opportunity to unduly cool. Another objection is that thematcher is difiicult to get at for purposes of repair, because it ishedged in between the two reducing-trains.- Still another objection isthat not all mill-floors and groundsites are such that the secondreducing-train can advantageously be placed in line with the firstreducing-train.

The object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the generalcharacter above described and in which the objections named are avoided.

To this end the invention consists, generally stated, in placing thesecond reducingtrain out of line with the first reducing-train and inproviding a matching device at the eXit end of the first train and theentrance end of the second train and having side stop mechanism in linewith the second train, said matching device being preferably inclined intwo directions from the horizontal, one inclination being downwardly inthe line of travel of the sheets and the other at right angles thereto,the arrangement being such that the sheets as they emerge from the firstreducing-train will of their own weight and by gravity slide downwardly,both endwise and sidewise, to the first pair of rolls of the secondreducing-train, suitable stops being provided against which said sheetsslide, so as to match up not only their ends, but also their side edges.In this way no manual manipulation is necessary in order to match up theside edges of the sheets and no delay will occur in their at onceentering into the second reducing-train. The matcher also is simpler andmore easily gotten at for purposes of repair than prior devices of thiskind.

The invention also consists in details of construction and arrangementhereinafter described and claimed. 4

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a diagrammatic plan view of arolling plant embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sideelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, ofthe matcher. Fig. I is a side elevation of the same, the rolls being insection; and Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the same.

In the drawings, 1 represents a heatingfurnace having chambers 2, 3, and4, in which the plate-bars are heated. This furnace may be of any knowntype, heated in any suitable way, and having any desired arrangement forcharging the plates into and drawing the plates out of the same. Thisfurnace will be provided with as many chambers as are necessary, or, ifpreferred, a number of separate furnaces may be employed. In thisfurnace the plate-bars are broughtto the proper rolling heat and arethen reduced in the apparatus to be described.

My rolling-mill comprises two continuous tandem trains 5 and 6, each ofwhich may be made up of as many pairs of two-high rolls as is necessary.I have shown the first train made up of five pairs of two-high rolls ar.ranged in tandem and numbered 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, respectively; but Imay vary this number without departing from my invention. Placed infront of each pair is a feed table or conveyer 12, which may be of anysuitable type, those shown consisting of a series of sprocket-chainspassingat their ends over sprocket-wheels. The sprocket-wheels at oneend of the chains are mounted upon a shaft 13, driven by suitablebeveled gears 14 from a counter-shaft 15, extending along the side ofthe train. In this manner the chains will be positively driven to feedthe bar in succession through the several pairs of rolls. The secondtrain is shown as consisting of three sets of two-high rolls numbered16, 17, and 18, respectively; but the number thereof may be varied asdesired. Between these sets of rolls likewise are placed feed-tables 12of the same character as just described in connection with the firsttrain and driven in the same way. From the last set of rolls of thesecond train a conveyer 19 carries the sheets to a doubler 20, which maybe of any known form of apparatus for this purpose and by means of whichthe sheets are doubled. They are then conveyed to areheatingfurnace,wherein they are again raised to the desiredtemperature and then passed through further reducing or finishing rolls.They will be doubled and reheated and rerolled as many times asnecessary to bring them to the desired gage. As the apparatus forperforming the latter steps of the operation is not new with me it isneither shown nor described.

The two tandem trains 5 and 6 are parallel to each other, but they arenot in line. I have shown the preferred arrangement, in which the secondtrain is an extension of the first train and carrying the sheets in thesame direction as the first train. The placing of the two trains out ofline with each other is chosen partly for the reason that on manymill-floors there are obstructions to the placing of the second train inline with the first train and partly for the reason that the matcher canbe more easily gotten at for purposes of repair and the like. At theexit end of the first train and entrance end of the second train isplaced the matching device for matching up two or more sheets so thatthey can be piled and passed in double or treble thickness through thesecond reducing-train.

The train 5 is at a higher level than the train 6. This matching devicemay be of any suitable or desirable form, that shown in the drawingsbeing so arranged that the sheets will by gravity slide from the firsttrain into position to enter the second train. This matcher has a doubleinclination downwardly, one inclination being in the direction of thetravel of the plates and the other being sidewise with referencethereto. The matcher is supported upon a suitable frame and comprisesplates or bars 21, sloping downwardly from the rolls 11, as shown inFig. 4, and also having a slope sidewise, as shown in Fig. ,5. At thelower end of the matcher is a stop 22 to arrest the endwise travel ofthe plates, and thus permit the plates to fall down upon the preceedingplates and have their ends matched. The side edge of the matcher also isprovided with a suitable stop or stops 23, which will match up the sideedges of the plates as they slide over sidewise against the same. Thatportion of the stop 22 which is in front of the rolls 16 is mademovable. so that it can be withdrawn in order to permit the matchedupsheets to enter the second reducing-train. Accordingly that portion ofthe stop is shown as a pair of fingers 24, connected to a rockshaft 25,which may be manipulated by any suitable means, such as the lever 26. Acounterweighted arm 27 on the rock-shaft holds the fingers 2e normallyelevated.

The matcher described matches the sheets not only at their ends, butalso at their side ed ges,and accomplishes this wholly by gravity andwithout any manual manipulation. The side stop 23 also serves as a gagefor positioning the matched-up sheets for their entrance into the secondreducing-train, and for this purpose it is adjustable by any suitablemeans, such as the bolts or slots shown.

As the bars or plates emerge from the last set of rolls 11 of the firsttrain they pass over a supporting-plate 28 into the bite of a pair offeed-rollers 29, which act to feed them into the matching device, theplates passing by gravity from said feed rollers down the matcher andinto position to enter the first set of rolls of the second train. Atthe entrance of the second train is placed another pair of feed-rollers30, which feed the plates into said second train over a suitablestationary table or plate 31. Both the feed-rollers 29 and 30 will bepositively driven by any suitable mechanism, such as by sprocket-chainsfrom the contiguous roll-shafts.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The plate-bars are raisedin the furnace 1 to the desired temperature and are then fed to orplaced upon the feed-table 12 in front of the first pair of rolls of thefirst reducingtrain. They pass singly and in succession through theseveral sets of rolls of the first reducing-train, being carried fromone set of rolls to the other by the feed-tables described.

The plates as they emerge from the last set of rolls of the first trainpass over the table 28 and through the feedrollers 29, which serve tofeed the same forward and into the matcher. They pass by gravity downupon the matcher, sliding down the same until the ends of the platesstrike the stationary stop 22 at the lower edge of said matcher and thenslide sidewise until the edges thereof strike against the side stop 23.After one plate has come to rest in this position the next succeedingplate will slide down in the same manner and on top of the first platewith its edges also bearing against the side stop 23. The lower portionof the matcher is slightly depressed, as shown, so that the plate willslide on top of the preceding plate or plates. This depressed portion ofthe matcher is horizontal, so that the plates will be parallel to therollpass. In this position the plates are accurately matched both attheir ends and their side edges. The stop 23 is so placed that thesheets will be in proper position for at once passing into the secondreducing-train. The operator will then manipulate the lever 26 todepress the stop-fingers 24, and as the sheets in this position areinclined they will slide into the bite of the feed-rollers 30, by whichthey are fed into the second reducing-train. To facilitate thismovement, the feed-rollers 30 are grooved, as shown in Fig. 3, and theends of the stop-fingers 24 lie in these grooves, so that the ends ofthe plates While held by said fingers are almost in touch with the facesof the rollers. As a consequence when the fingers are depressed theplates need slide but slightly in order to come into the bite of therollers. The counterweight 27 will at once return the stop-fingers 24 totheir elevated position, so as to hold in place the next succeedingplates until such time as they are to be admitted to the secondreducing-train. The piled sheets will pass through the secondreducingtrain continuously and will then be fed to the doubler 20, bymeans of which they are doubled and then manipulated in the same manneras has heretofore been the practice that is, reheated and rerolled andredoubled as often as necessary to reduce the same to the desired gage.The sheets as they emerge from my mill will be aboutsixteen to twentysixgage, depending upon the thickness and character of sheet-bar used, andin this condition will be suitable for certain purposes, and thereforeneed not be doubled and reheated and rerolled. For tin-plate, however,and many other purposes the gage will often have to be further reduced,and consequently said-sheets will be doubled, reheated, and rerolled.

The advantages of my rolling apparatus result from the practicallyautomatic action thereof. No manual operation is necessary from the timethe bars enter the first set of reducing-rolls until they leave the lastset, ex-

cept that necessary to depress the stop-fingers 24. In all otherparticulars the operation is perfectly automatic. The plates areaccurately matched both at their ends and on their side edges, and inbeing matched are placed in position for immediate entry into the secondreducing-train. In this way no delay occurs during matching and thesheets will lose practically no heat during this operation. Since thetwo trains are out of line, the matcher is easily gotten at for purposesof repair or alteration.

In the drawings the two reducing-trains are shown in exact parallelismand in the claims they are described as being parallel. I wish itunderstood that by this term I do not exclude an arrangement in whichthe two trains are at a slight angle to each other, but not so great butthat the plates in sliding down the matcher sidewise can swing sufiiciently to come into line with the second train.

What I claim is 1. In apparatus for rolling sheet metal, the combinationof two continuous trains each consisting of two or more pairs of rollsarranged in tandem, said trains being parallel but out of line with eachother, and a match ing device located at the exit end of the first trainand entrance end of the second train rolls arranged in tandem, saidtrains being parallel but out of line with each other, and a matchingdevice located at the exit end of the first train and entrance end ofthe second train and arranged to receive the plates from one train anddeliver the same to the other train, said matcher being provided withsuitable front-stop mechanism and suitable sidestop mechanism in linewith the second train.

3. In apparatus for rolling sheet metal, the combination oftwo sets ofreducing-rolls arranged parallel but out of line with each other, and amatching device located at the exit side of the first set and entranceside of the secondset of rolls and arranged to receive the plates fromone set of rolls and deliver the same to the other set of rolls, saidmatcher being provided with suitable side-stop mechanism in line withthe second train and endstop mechanism arranged to match the side andend edges of the plates.

4:. In apparatus for rolling sheet metal, the combination of two sets ofreducing-rolls arranged parallel but out of line with each other, and amatching device located at the exit side of the first set and entranceside of the second set of rolls and arranged to receive the plates fromone set of rolls and deliver the same to the other set of rolls, saidmatcher being provided with a stop for squaring up the ends of theplates and also with astop for squaring up the side edges of the plates,said last-named stop being arranged to act as a guide for the second setof rolls.

5. In apparatus for rolling sheet metal, the combination of two sets ofreducing-rolls arranged parallel but out of line with each other, and amatching device located at the exit side of the first set and entranceside of the second set of rolls and having a double downward inclinationfrom the horizontal, whereby the plates are moved downwardly in thedirection in which they are to be fed to the second set of rolls andalso sidewise with reference to said direction, said matcher beingprovided with suitable stop mechanism.

6. In apparatus for rolling sheet metal, the combination of two sets ofreducing-rolls arranged parallel but out of line with each other, and amatching device located at the exit side of the first set and entranceside of the second set of rolls and having a double downward inclinationfrom the horizontal, whereby the plates are moved downwardly in thedirection in whichthey are to be fed to the second set of rolls and alsosidewise with reference to said direction, said matcher being providedwith a stop for squaring up the end edges of the plates and also with aguide or stop for squaring up the side edges of the plates.

7. In apparatus for rolling sheet metal, the combination of two sets ofreducing-rolls arranged parallel but out of line with each other andlocated at different levels, and a matching device located at the exitside of the first set and entrance side of the second set of rolls and.having a double downward inclination with its higher end in proximity tothe rolls at the higher level and its lower end in proximity to therolls at the lower level, whereby the plates are caused to movedownwardly in the direction in which they are to be fed to the secondset of rolls and also sidewise with reference to said direction, saidmatcher having a suitable stop to limit the endwise movement of theplates and also a suitable stop to limit the sidewise movement thereof.

8. In apparatus for rolling sheet metal, the combination of two setsofreducing-rolls arranged parallel but out of line with each other andlocated at different levels, and a matching device located at the exitside of the first set and entrance side of the second set of rolls andhaving a double downward inclination with its higher end in proximity tothe rolls at the higher level and its lower end in proximity to therolls at the lower level, whereby the plates are caused to movedownwardly in the direction in which they are to be fed to the secondset of rolls and also sidewise with reference to said direction, saidmatcher having a suitable stop to limit the endwise movement of theplates and also a suitable stop arranged to act as a guide for thesecond set of reducing-rolls and in position to have the plate sideedges impinged against the same.

9. In apparatus for rolling sheet metal, the combination of two sets ofreducing-rolls arranged parallel but out of line with each other, and amatching device located at the exit side of the first set and entranceside of the second set of rolls and having a double downward inclinationfrom the horizontal, whereby the plates are moved downwardly in thedirection in which they are to be fed to the second set of rolls andsidewise with reference to said direction, a suitable stop to limit thesidewise movement of the plates, and a suitable stop for limiting theendwise movement of the plates, that portion of the last-named stop atthe lower end of the matcher being retractable.

In testimony whereof I, the said PERCY E. DONNER, have hereunto set myhand.

PERCY E. DONNER.

WVitnesses:

ROBERT C. TOTTEN, G. G. RAYMOND.

